Inflated support for trousers



J. DE GRAZIA INFLATED SUPPORT FOR TROUSERS Oct. 8, 1963 Filed Feb. 2,1962 INVENTOR Joseph De Gragia.

ATTORNEY United States Patent ice 3,105,974 INFLATED SUPPORT FORTROUSERS Joseph De Grazia, Washington, D.C. Filed Feb. 2, 1962, Ser. N0. 170,850 3 Claims. (Cl. 2-31o (Granted under Title 35, US. Code(1952), sec. 266) The invention described herein, if patented, may bemanufactured and used by or for the Government for governmentalpurposes, without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

The invention relates to garment supports and more specifically togarment supports of the concealed suspender type which are adapted to beworn beneath outer garments so as to be concealed thereby but atthe sametime supporting another garment from the inside. One type of support ofthis kind is not directly connected to any garment but providesoutwardly projecting means extending generally around the waist line insubjacent relation to the waistband of the nether garment so that thebelt for the latter is disposed just above the projectmg means wherebyit and the nether garment are supported thereon. It is with this lasttype of support that the invention is concerned.

Supports of this type which have been previously used have thedisadvantage that they are either too bulky, too heavy or too rigidwhereby they form unsightly bulges around the hips or are uncomfortableto wear.

With the foregoing in view, it is an object of the invention to providean improved garment support of the class described.

A further object is to provide such an improved garment support whichincludes at least one section of lightweight tubular material of anormally flexible nature as the supporting means for the waist band ofthe nether garment.

A further object is to provide a support such as last described whereinthe tubular material is D-shaped in cross section with the flat sidedisposed toward the wearers body.

A further object is to provide such a support comprising lightweight,flexible tubular material having atmospheric air sealed therein.

Other objects and advantages reside in the particular structure of theinvention, the structure of the several elements thereof, combinationsand sub-combinations of such elements with each other and/or one or moregarments and appurtenances thereto, all of which will be readilyapparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to the attacheddrawing which illustrates a preferred embodiment of the invention and tothe following specification wherein the invention is described andclaimed.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view illustrating a preferred embodiment ofthe invention apart from any garment;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view thereof; and

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged vertical section view taken substantially on theplane of the line '33 of FIGURE 1 but showing the device in use.

Referring specifically to the drawing, wherein like reference charactersdesignate like parts in all views, designates generally the supponterwhich includes any suitable supporting means such as the Suspenderstraps 11 which include any suitable separable fastener means such asthe clips 12 for securing the suspenders to a belt portion (13. Beltportion 13 may be formed of any suitable flexible material, preferably amaterial which is impervious to perspiration or material which may bereadily and repeatedly laundered without damage. The opposite ends ofbelt portion 13 are secured together by any suitable buckle meansgenerally designated by 114.

The garment supporting means comprises one or more 3,105,974 PatentedGet. 8, 1963 sections of lightweight, normally flexible, tubularmaterial. In the embodiment illustrated, there arerelatively long sidesections 15 and 16 which extend laterally and 19 are flattened as at 20and are secured to the belt portion 13 by any suitable means such as thestitching 21. Obviously, the sections could be cemented or otherwisesecured to the belt portion 13. Likewise, it should be understood thatthe sections 15, 16 and 19 could be increased or reduced in number or beof lengths different from those shown.

An important feature of the invention is that the support sections 15,16 and 19 are each of identical cross section which comprises a tubewhich is flattened on one side to provide a D-shaped cross section. Theflat side 22 (FIG. 3) abuts the outer surface of the belt portion 13 soas to pro Vide a firm engagement therewith without buckling when bent asin use and to facilitate the cementing of the same to the belt portionwhen adhesive is used as a substitute for the stitching -21 or as asupplement thereto. The sections 15, 16 and 19 are formed of anysuitable plastic material such as one of the elastomers, natural orsynthetic or other more inelastic plastics such as nylon, polyethyleneor like material. All of these materials are lightweight, non-toxic,non-absorbent to moisture and may be readily cleaned as necessary. Also,they may be provided in any desirable degree of flexibility orsemi-rigidity whereby they are readily available at low cost. Byflattening or otherwise closing the ends of the sections 15, 16 and 19,the atmospheric air contained the same is sealed therein.

In use, as illustrated in FIGURE 3, the belt portion 13 may be wornunder all clothes next to the body 23- beneath the undershirt 24, outershirt 25 and trousers or other nether garment 26. This arrangement hasthe advantage of keeping the free lower edges of both shirts 24-, 25tucked in. However, if desired, the belt portion may be applied over theundergarment but under the outer shirt 25. As shown, the suspensionmeans 11 supports the belt portion 13 in subjacent relation to thewaistband 27 of the nether garment 26. Thus, when the usual garment belt28 is tightened around the waistband Z7 it is disposed just above thesupport sections 15, 16 and 19 whereby to be supported thereby in amanner well known in the art. The atmospheric air in the supportsections 15, 16 and 19 will be compressed by any flattening forceexerted by the garment belt 28 or otherwise. Such slight compressionincreases if the compressive force is increased and will preventflattening or collapse of the support sections whereby they are enabledto perform their function. At the same time, their flexibility inadapting themselves to the shape of the body is not impaired. Likewise,because the sections 15, 16 and 19 are tubular, they are considerablylighter than if they were formed of solid material. Also because theends of the tubular sections are sealed, they can be formed with thinnerwalls whereby to accomplish a further reduction in weight without anysacrifice of eflticiency.

It is obvious from the foregoing that the invention is compact enough tobe concealed in use; is light enough to be worn without discomfort, yetstrong enough to perform its function for long periods of use.

Also, while there has been shown and described what is now thought to bea preferred embodiment of the invention, it should be understood thatthe same is susceptible of other forms and expressions. Consequently,the invention is not limited to the precise structure shown anddescribed hereinabove but only as hereinafter claimed.

3 I claim: 7 1. In a concealed support for a nether garment having awaistband, said support including a belt portion adapted to be wornbeneath said nether garment, said support including suspension meansadapted to support said belt portion in subjacent and parallel relationto said waistband; the

improvement comprising normally flexible tubular supporting means, saidsupporting means comprising a plurality of sections of hollow imperviousplastic tubing, means mounting said sections on said belt portionoutwardly thereof in longitudinally spaced relation along substantiallythe entire length of said =belt portion, and means sealing each end ofeach of said sections whereby to trap air therein at atmos sphericpressure to prevent collapse of said sections in use.

2. In a concealed support for a nether garment having a Waistband, saidsupport including a belt portion adapted to be worn beneath said nethergarment, said support including means suspending the same in subjacentand parallel relation to said waistband; the improvement comprising atleast two normally flexible tubular supporting sections each having twosealed and flattened ends sealing air in each section at atmosphericpressure to prevent collapse thereof in use, and means mounting saidsections and said belt portion longitudinally thereof in spaced andlaterally opposed relation.

3. In a concealed support for a nether garment having a waistband, saidsupport including a belt portion adapted to be worn beneath said nethergarment, said support including means suspending the same in subjacentand parallel relation to said waistband; the improvement comprising aplurality of normally flexible tubular supporting sections, each sectionhaving two sealed and flattened ends sealing air therein at atmosphericpressure, means extending through said flattened ends and said belt formounting said sections along said belt portion outwardly thereof inlongitudinally spaced relation, there being two relatively long sidesections and a relatively short back section between said side sections,and said sections in use being adapted to slightly compress said airtherein whereby to impart increased rigidity to said sections andprevent collapse thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS700,498 Hunkins May 20, 1902 823,922 Chrysler June 19, 1906 1,077,800Butters Nov. 4, 19-13 1,080,985 Leap Dec. 9, 1913 1,335,927 AinsworthApr. 6, 1920 2,682,669 Valentine et a1. July 6, 1 954 2,724,843 Kimballo Nov. 29, 1955 2,766,500 Chanko Oct. 6, 1956 2,903,706 Al-berts et al.Sept. 15, 1959

1. IN A CONCEALED SUPPORT FOR A NETHER GARMENT HAVING A WAISTBAND, SAIDSUPPORT INCLUDING A BELT PORTION ADAPTED TO BE WORN BENEATH SAID NETHERGARMENT, SAID SUPPORT INCLUDING SUSPENSION MEANS ADAPTED TO SUPPORT SAIDBELT PORTION IN SUBJACENT AND PARALLEL RELATION TO SAID WAISTBAND; THEIMPROVEMENT COMPRISING NORMALLY FLEXIBLE TUBULAR SUPPORTING MEANS, SAIDSUPPORTING MEANS COMPRISING A PLURALTIY OF SECTIONS OF HOLLOW IMPERVIOUSPLASTIC TUBING, MEANS MOUNTING SAID SECTIONS ON SAID BELT PORTIONOUTWARDLY THEREOF IN LONGITUDINALLY SPACED RELATION ALONG SUBSTANTIALLYTHE ENTIRE LENGTH OF SAID BELT PORTION, AND MEANS SEALING EACH END OFEACH OF SAID SECTIONS WHEREBY TO TRAP AIR THEREIN AT ATMOSSPHERICPRESSURE TO PREVENT COLLAPSE OF SAID SECTION IN USE.